Bitcoin Slides After Fed Cut, QT Ends

The Federal Reserve on Oct. 29 cut rates by 25 basis points and announced an end to quantitative tightening, signaling a dovish pivot even as Chair Jerome Powell’s cautious post-meeting comments tempered hopes for further cuts. Crypto markets reacted with volatility: Bitcoin slid from roughly $115,000 toward $110,000 before rebounding, triggering more than $500 million in liquidations. Markets now face near-term catalysts including a $17+ billion Bitcoin and Ethereum options expiry on Oct. 31 and geopolitical headlines such as the Trump–Xi meeting that briefly lifted risk appetite. Analysts say renewed liquidity and a halt to QT could lift risk assets and potentially spark a liquidity-driven altcoin rally, but many warn elevated volatility into year-end and stress that BTC’s next breakout depends on Fed rhetoric, Wall Street flows and macro conditions. Altcoins show mixed signals, with XRP and Cardano singled out for potential near-term upside amid product roadmaps and industry events even as meme‑coin rallies and paid promotions add speculative risk.